
Referring to the American administration as “The White House”Ī seemingly contradictory statement that also conveys truth Substitution for a name or attribute of a thing or concept Saying, “What a lovely day!” during a hurricane.Ī form of verbal irony using understatementĪ comparison by using one word in place of another “Pleasure’s a sin, and sometimes sin’s a pleasure.” (Lord Byron, “Don Juan”)įigurative language used to replace an unpleasant expression with an agreeable oneĬonveying meaning by using language that typically signifies the opposite The repetition of vowel sounds within lines of textĪ rhetorical figure in which words or concepts repeat in reverse order “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Shakespeare, “Romeo and Juliet “) Let freedom ring from …” (Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream” speech)Ī rhetorical device that pairs contrasting ideas by using parallel structureĭirectly addressing someone or something that is not present Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. “So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

The repetition of words at the beginnings of a sequence of clauses The repetition of the first consonant sounds in a group of words “In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths …” Common Figures of Speech Figure of Speech I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” “Cowards die many times before their deaths The valiant never taste of death but once.” “It was a fine cry – loud and long – but it had no bottom, and it had no top, just circles and circles of sorrow.” “A host, of golden daffodils / Beside the lake, beneath the trees, / Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” William Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” Some figure of speech examples found in works of literature include the following:

The intended meaning differs from its ordinary meaning to create an enhanced experience. This literary device can be in the form of a phrase or a single word. What Is Figure of Speech?Ī figure of speech involves using language in a unique way to paint a distinct picture for the reader. In this way, writers and speakers can suggest visuals, create rhetorical effects or produce vivid ideas. Using figures of speech communicates deeper meaning to deliver more expressive imagery to the listener or reader. Basically, I complain a lot, using figure of speech devices like apostrophe, personification and hyperbole.ĭescribing events in a literal way can be dry and uninteresting. I also tend to complain about the ton of socks that need folding and the millions of things I have to do. “My computer hates me,” is a common phrase I mention to people nearby. Often, I find myself addressing my computer directly, begging it to cooperate with me.
